Day 4
August 29, 2010
Lifeline Malawi Mission House, Ngodzi

We started the day by sleeping-in, in spite of our good friend the
rooster. Breakfast was at 8am with everyone thankful for a restful
horizontal sleep. It was an adventure just climbing out of the
mosquito netting.

Hank led devotions with a focus on Revelation 7. “Everyone was there -
all nations and tribes, all races and languages. And John 17 “But also
for those that will believe in me…..Just as you Father are in Me and I
in You.”

We had a lovely breakfast and were all ready to go to church by 9 am.
Next was the walk to the village church that Chelsey, Connie and Hank
had helped to construct. The children came out to watch and walk with
us. Our first glimpse of village life and what was to come later in
the day.

Church was lively as is so typical in African services, with lots of
beautiful singing accompanied by enthusiastic drumming and lots of
body movement.  Some of our team members were caught up with the
rhythm, while some will need work in that area.  We brought greetings
and Hank was asked to preach.

Sister Gertrude and Connie were invited into a home by one of the
women at church and are hoping to have the opportunity to do so soon.

We returned to the guest house for lunch and had a short time to chat
and rest and then went on a tour of the fishing village along the
lake. Our guides and translators Daniel and Limbani were a big help in
translating and filling us in on some local activities.
The photo’s of the fishermen will give you some idea of how being on
this lake with the fishing is a reminder of what things would have
been like on the Sea Of Galilee, the men fishing, the children
playing, the women washing the clothes. It was pretty amazing!
Sarah was touched as she was reminded of the cycle of fishing to
agriculture, the hard life, the hope of catching, the drying…

The high light of the day during this tour of the village was the
children, so many, bright eyes, big smiles all interested in us,
wanting their pictures taken and then big laughs when seeing their
pictures on the LCD screen. Follow us along often up to 50 or 60 at a
time. At any given moment one of our team members would be lost in a
sea of children. Most wanting to pose, holding our hands, gathering
around, following us along. Each of us felt a connection to the
children. What joy.

Victoria experienced a personal God moment while writing in the sand
the dates Nov. 29/09 – Aug. 29/10 with the same stick she used to
write the same dates in the sand in PEI. The dates signify 9 months
from the date of God’s call on her heart to go to Africa.  Today is
the day of the call being fulfilled in humble obedience. It signifies
the birth of something new – new beginnings.  In a way, writing in the
sand was like God drawing a line in the sand connecting the nations
and the bridge is love.   As she wrote in the sand she was quickly
enveloped by a whole flock of children.